HAWKER HUNTER
FGA MK 74BS 533
MSN 41H679972

QAM thanks
Greg Ackman for this aircraft which was donated through the Australian
Government’s Cultural Gifts Program.

XE614

03MAR56

First
flown as F.Mk.6 XE614

OCT57

Issued
to No 263 Sqn at RAF Wattisham

JUL58

No
263 Sqn disbanded at RAF Stradishall

JUN60

Rebuilt
as FR.Mk.10

MAR63

1417
Flight was formed at RAF Khormaksar, Aden to provide a photo reconnaissance
capability for No 8 Squadron RAF which operated the Hunter FGA Mk 9 as part
of the Aden Strike Wing. 1417 Flight took over the five Hunter FR Mk 10
(including XE614) which were previously assigned to 8 Sqn. The first Commanding
Officer of 1417 Flight was Peter Lewis whose personal aircraft, XE614, carried
his initials PL on the tail and nosewheel door. Peter Lewis' account of
his time in Aden can be read here.

APR63

By
the end of April 1963, 1417 Flight was ready for operations. (Source: Peter
Lewis)

22APR64

Flight
Lieutenant George Cole joined 1417 Flight at RAF Khormaksar, Aden where
he was allotted Hunter XE614. Hunters of 1417 Flight carried their pilot's
initials as codes so XE614 was painted as GC. "1417 Flight was a very
small flight with five aircraft and six pilots and a very popular posting
as 90% of the flying was at low level, very low level. I had also managed
to arrive on the flight at the time the Radfan campaign started, so the
flying tended to be varied and interesting. Only pilots from 1417 Flight
were cleared to fly as singletons upcountry." (Source: George Cole)

19MAY64

George
Cole's first flight in XE614. (Source: George Cole)

26OCT64

George
Cole in XE614 was escorting another Hunter returning to Muharaq via Masirah.
Climbing out from Masirah after refuelling, the engine of XE614 surged and
flamed-out. Fortunately, the weather was perfect and the subsequent dead-stick
landing back at Masirah was not a problem. The whole flight had lasted only
20 minutes. George Cole returned to Khormaksar on an Argosy of No 105 Sqn
and thus never learned the reason for the flame-out. XE614 remained at Masirah
where the engine was changed. (Source: George Cole)

25JAN66

George
Cole's last flight in XE614. It is believed that XE614 returned to the U.K.
for servicing shortly thereafter. (Source: George Cole) (See next entry)

66

XE614
was photographed still in service with 1417 Flight
assigned to Flt Lt Richard Johns and carrying his initials RJ.